The Forester men's hockey team was defeated 4-1 at Aurora University Friday afternoon in game one of the teams' Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup Playoff quarterfinal series.
The Spartans took control of the game early, scoring three times in the first nine minutes. They added a fourth goal at the 6:43 mark of the second period.
Lake Forest finally got on the scoreboard just nine second later on freshman forward Griffen Sanom's sixth score of the season. He won the faceoff at center ice and passed the puck back to senior defenseman Vaughan Bamford. Bamford's pass toward freshman forward Logan Kittleson caromed off the right board at the blue line and into the middle of the offensive zone, where Sanom secured the puck and scored the breakaway goal.
Unfortunately for the visitors, they were unable to get any closer, despite outshooting Aurora 40-28 in the contest. Lake Forest senior goaltender Carson Poulin stopped 22 of 23 shots on goal in a relief effort.
The Foresters are now 10-12-4 on the season while Aurora improved to 18-6-2.
The teams will face off again in the second game of the series Saturday night at 7:30. It will be played at the BMO Center in Rockford, Illinois. A Lake Forest victory would force a decisive 20-minute mini-game, which would follow game two.